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Kip, I can't help but think this is somewhat directed at me... And to that I say, I completely agree, players should absolutely earn their ice time. But this situation is completely different from the Jurco one. Notice how Pulkkinen was not put in a position he is not well suited? Instead of demoting him to the 4th line, where he most certainly would not produce much, they opted to send him down to the minors. I am and always have been 100% pro sending Jurco back down to Grand Rapids. I am not okay with Jurco playing a grinder type role when that is not his game.

That's the issue. I think Jurco has much better offensive instincts than Abdelkader, I think he has much more raw skill than Abdelkader. Abdelkader has much better numbers because he has been given ample opportunity to succeed. Jurco started in a scoring role and he still gets the occasional look, but what does it do to a player to keep getting demoted every time you go a few games without producing? Abdelkader can and has gone 10+ games without a goal but he remains in the top 6, Jurco doesn't get that same benefit. Confidence is huge in hockey and Jurco simply doesn't have it recently. The only way he gets that back is in a scoring role in Detroit or Grand Rapids.

No, you don't seem to be grasping my point at all. I see exactly what you're saying and it makes zero sense based on what I'm saying.

And the fact that you're saying that I was "attacking" Kip is hilarious.

I don't think Glendening should be scratched in favor of Pulkkinen, but if they're both in the lineup Pulkkinen should be on a higher line. I would never scratch Abdelkader in favor of Jurco but with both of them in the lineup Jurco should be on a higher line... Smith or any defenseman for that matter should not be scratched for a lesser defender. But the same lesser defender could potentially get more minutes if his skillset allows it...

In what world does a line of Miller - Glendening - Abdelkader get 7 minutes a night? Certainly not Mike Babcock's world.

Like I said, even if Smith were getting less minutes in my scenario than Marchenko. I wouldn't care. If my 4th line got more ice time then my 3rd line (which would be very likely on some nights) I wouldn't be mad either.

It's not about number of minutes, it's about playing players to their strengths.

I'm done arguing this. If you can't see the difference here, I don't know what to tell you.

How the hell do you not see the difference? In one instance one player is being scratched, in the other both players are playing.

Ok, it looks like the lines for tomorrow will be
Kronwall - Ericsson
DeKeyser - Quincey
Smith - Zidlicky
with Kindl being the 7th and Marchenko being down in GR.

Let's just say these combos stick for a couple weeks and then God forbid, Quincey gets injured again. If Babcock decided to put Marchenko with DeKeyser leaving both Smith and Zidlicky on the bottom pair, despite both being better, I wouldn't have a problem because both would still be in the lineup.